I think the evocation of Stalinseque cult-of-personality iconography works to 1)make Stanley seem more ominous and menacing and 2)convey the notion that he is embarking on a mission to bring a new order to Erfworld (whether it wants one or not).

Of course, the analogy breaks down in that Stanley viewed (and presumably still views) his mandate in religious terms (i.e. the Titans are on his side).

_________________Is this a real holy war, or just a bunch of deluded boopholes croaking each other?

I think that the whole "soviet" feel is less because the soviets somehow philosophically represent Stanley (in any way further than an uprising against monarchs, which as it has appeared to happen in such a plethora of countries that is appears, to me, to have little to do with communism or socialism in general).

Moreso, I think it's because he started calling himself a tool of the titans, and the hammer and sickle are tools, which appear prominently in a very anti-monarchy real world country's propaganda / flags.

Well, they did beat a vastly more powerful enemy; they might well see that as a sign. Stanley in particular is likely to see it as confirmation of his beliefs about his holy destiny.

True Believers see signs in all kinds of rubbish (literally). That doesn't make them signs, just delusions.

...

The only thing I see as a possible sign of Titanic intervention is Parson's thought that the world was cheating against him, just as his game was intended to cheat the players. But even that is only a possibility. There's been no actual sign of Titanic involvement.

So, show me a sign—a real sign, not the kind of nonsense a True Believer would interpret as a sign.

Direct Titanic intervention isn't needed for a sign. The current paradigm is that royals are inherently superior to commoners. And Stanley beat them. That is a sign that the old paradigm is wrong.

I think this whole affair is infinitely exciting. There are really so many different ways it could go in just the next panel alone, so many things to consider that it makes the air thick with anticipation like I have never experienced in a comic of any format. Some of the most pressing questions forming in my mind are...

Is a coupe possible? Wanda now has the arkenpliers and Parson has won the respect of everyone on the mountain pretty much while the realization is fresh in everyone's minds that Stanley left them to die. Though I do not think Parson would be the one to push for it, I can certainly see an avid change in management being considered if the Erfworld mechanics even allow for such a thing. I hoped... sooooooo much that Wanda would have usurped control outright in the exchange and maybe acquisition of the pliers, but the decor of the new castle is simply not her style. I am fairly confident that it means that it did not redesign to her parameters like it ambiguously seems to do for it's owners. Unfortunate, that.

Will Stanley try to take the arkenpliers, or does he recognize they are attuned to her for a reason. Would they even be of any use in his hands if he did get them? Maybe their presence among his "side" will be enough for him, maybe they won't. Can he simply threaten to unmake her like he did Parson? Do the arkenpliers allow her the anonymity to separate herself from his rule? That conversation will be one to look forward to, either way.

Will Charlescom let the slight of defeat go? He could take it graciously, as he seems aloof enough to warrant, but he also strikes me as someone not accustomed to losing. The complete loss of everything he staked into the game may mean that Parson and company have a new, serious enemy. Will he remain neutral? What has become of him?

Ansom is, though created by Wanda, apparently fiercely loyal to Parson. He is among the people who I think would follow him out of the kingdom at the drop of a hat if some sort of separation were to occur (if again, it is even possible, whatever rules exist, parson lives to shatter them). Ansom is also a very powerful figure, and if he lives through Stanley's "introduction" exists as a surefire way to tip the scales one way or the other.

Will Transilvito be the next big doorstop?

And I cannot waaaaiiiiiit for a certain barbarian to re-meet her now decrypted once-paramour. But that might be the sadist in me.

The list goes on.

All in all, things are going.. too well for Parson's side, even if he does not feel that way himself. They have crossed the threshold of change so profound that their slate of enemies has almost completely been wiped clean and a host of various powers sits in their collective laps unchallenged. The natural progression of storytelling dictates (Sadly, as I rather like the idea of them dominating the erfworld) that some calamity must now occur to disrupt that. My pipe dreams aside, all that really remains to be seen is which element it originates under. There are no shortages of volatile elements at play.

The natural progression of storytelling dictates (Sadly, as I rather like the idea of them dominating the erfworld) that some calamity must now occur to disrupt that. My pipe dreams aside, all that really remains to be seen is which element it originates under. There are no shortages of volatile elements at play.

I'm betting in true erfworld fashion "wait you can veil troops?" is going to be the "calamity" in their way. That is to say the world is likely to be much more vast than perhaps initially implied.

The entrance to the tunnels appears to be near the base of the mountain, not at the top of the road. It would be odd indeed if the tunnels emerged at the top of the mountain.

I'll admit it seems incredibly odd, perhaps it's an old trap from pre-Sizemore era GK(so he wouldn't know about it). The road doesn't seem to have served an real purpose in the Old GK, so what if King Saline ordered a road built that could be destroyed as a trap, you could take out a lot of troops and strand any that were actually at the walls. Being that the old GK was a bunker, it fits with the defensive style. Chekov's road anyone?

Course that's all speculation, but I don't see many other reasons for it, with the exception of it just being a copy of parson's game.

Anyway, these summer updates focus on the one thing that most stories kinda skimp on, what do the main characters do in between all the high drama and battle? I'm as excited for every update here as I am for most of the normal comic updates, at least when it comes to the story itself.

he seems excited about having ansom as a minion. i wonder if he thinks he can use ansom and put parson on toilet duty

Since decrypted units don't decay, he may wonder if somehow ansom turned. I'd laugh if Ansom got promoted and Parson was put to duty with Sizemore. You'd have both Wanda and Ansom asking Parson for advice on tactics while he has to work a boopy job.

I love the propaganda art, but why stars? Should have been stylized hammers or dwagons.

*Grins* Check the gate again.

Ah! I missed that on first glance! Very nice.

I have to say, I'm really loving the shift to watercolor in the last two Summer Updates. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it seems to fit perfectly with the narrative style, particularly with the choice of a fairly restricted color palate.

I absolutely agree. It gives it a very heavily narrative feel. (Which, seems kinda redundant to word since thats what it /is/, but I digress) The colors and tones make it feel like a flashback or epilogue without resorting to anything so heavy handed as full blown sepia tone. I do not know whether or not it was intentional, but none of the panels so far have shown anyone's face, which to me draws you more into the written story as you try to soak up the text to fill in that emotion in place of a smile or frown, without losing the graphical empowerment of the paintings themselves. I like it, a lot. While I would never desire the comic to end, these paragraphs do give as someone mentioned, something more than the comic can. They allow us to feast our inquisitive minds on rich dialogue and perspective we'd never get to look at otherwise. Stanely? Internal dialogue? I never saw it coming. And that is the beauty of it. With that little introspection, Stanley now seems many times more menacing than the seemingly mindless agent of chaos and selfishness he was prior. He is evolving, and that is dangerous indeed.

Direct Titanic intervention isn't needed for a sign. The current paradigm is that royals are inherently superior to commoners. And Stanley beat them. That is a sign that the old paradigm is wrong.

*headdesk*

Yes, it's a sign that the “paradigm” (a fancy word for Ansom's opinion) is wrong. And that's all it is.

This entire discussion began with the suggestion that direct Titanic intervention was involved. I responded by pointing out that if Titanic intervention had been involved, we would have seen some evidence of it. I contend that we have not. I would like to see some supporting evidence for the suggestions that started this discussion, not this kind of misdirection.

We're in a parody universe, where Magic is alive and well. We've got a Summoned random element who is out to take over the world in order to end war, and incidentally for the fun of strategy. Oh, and we've also go the ArkenTools, who only attune to certain people. And you people want PROOF-POSITIVE of Titanic Intervention? It's already THERE!

I'm gonna stop before I start a religious rant.

_________________I am the Barbarian Gamer. I can roam. I can explore. I am free to make purchases or returns or forum posts of whatever I please. I'm here for the same reasons you are. One, this interests me. And two? I love Erfworld. May the Titans help me.

The titans 'accidentally' dropped one extra gem, which allowed the marbits to buy extra units, which enabled them to kill Manpower, which is why they bought the summoning spell to get Parson to replace him, which enabled Gobwin Knob to win. Sure, if that extra gem wasn't dropped, Manpower probably would have still croaked eventually, but probably not soon enough for them to summon Parson and allow him to learn all the rules in time for the final battle.

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